Response of Nearby Sensors to Variable Doses of Nitrogen Fertilization in Winter Fodder Crops Under Mediterranean Climate
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Proximal optical sensors precisely guided nitrogen fertilization for winter forage crops, reducing fertilizer use by over 15% without impacting yield. These technologies enhance sustainable agriculture through efficient input management and crop monitoring.
Area Of Science
- Agricultural Science
- Precision Agriculture
- Remote Sensing
Background
- Sustainable intensification of forage production in Mediterranean climates necessitates optimized agricultural input use.
- Variable rate nitrogen fertilization is crucial for maximizing crop yield and quality while minimizing environmental impact.
Purpose Of The Study
- To evaluate the performance of proximal optical sensors for variable rate nitrogen fertilization in winter forage crops under Mediterranean conditions.
- To assess the correlation between sensor-derived data and key agronomic parameters.
Main Methods
- Utilized a handheld multispectral active sensor (HMA), a multispectral camera on an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV), and an on-the-go (OTG) sensor for real-time nitrogen (N) prescription.
- Correlated sensor data with plant fresh matter (PFM), plant dry matter (PDM), plant N content (PNC), crude protein (CP), crude protein yield (CPyield), and N uptake (NUp).
Main Results
- Real-time N fertilization reduced total N applied by 15.23% (22.90 kg ha⁻¹), maintaining crop productivity.
- NDVI_OTG correlated moderately with PFM (R² = 0.52).
- UAV-derived NDVI showed stronger correlations with CP (R² = 0.58), CPyield (R² = 0.53), and NUp (R² = 0.53); HMA also showed significant correlations with NUp (R² = 0.55) and CPyield (R² = 0.53).
Conclusions
- Integrating proximal optical sensors enables precise N fertilization prescription and monitoring of plant physiological responses.
- Sensor technology promotes cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and improved agronomic efficiency in forage production.
- These findings support the adoption of sensor-based approaches for optimizing agricultural inputs in Mediterranean cropping systems.
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